Film Surfing with Danny & Doug

We are BACK! After an 8 month hiatus due to craziness in our personal lives, we are offically back at it. In this week's episode, we discuss what has been going on on our end as well as a fun discussion around Jordan Peele's Us & Nope. A little rough around the edges as we get back into the swing of recording but we will master it again in no time. We are so happy to be back!  Support the show

In this week's episode we welcome back Alex Bangle, as well as new guest Rhianna Taylor to help us discuss Ti West's horror duology X and it's prequel Pearl. In X, a group of actors set out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts,  but the eldery couple is not what they seem, the cast find themselves in a desperate fight for their lives. In Pearl, the prequel to X, we see the titular character trapped on an isolated farm in 1918, tending to her ailing father under the watch of her domineering mother. She lusts after the glamorous life she's seen in the movies, and at the same time her temptations and repressions collide in the most dangerous fashion. 

In this week's episode we welcome our friend Cameron Pfeifer to the show! We gaggle on about the new horror comedy sensation M3GAN. It's directed by Jerard Johnstone with a script for Malignant screenwriter Akela Cooper, about a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that's programmed to a child's greatest companion and a parent's greatest ally. Designed by Gemma played by Allison Williams, a brilliant robotocist, M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate and protector. Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences. 

First of all, we are so, so excited to introduce our first official guest on the show, the lovely Alex Bangle! Alex hails from Doug's hometown of Sierra Vista, Arizona. We go way back and have an equivalent love for all things cinema and theatre!  In this week's episode we continue our Best Picture showcase of this year's Oscar nominees. We start the episode giving our take on Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical tale of his childhood The Fabelmans which features a fantastic Michelle Williams as Mitzi Fabelman (Spielberg's mother) and one of John Williams' best scores in years. Then we do a compare and contrast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: the Way of Water. 

In this week's episode we do a roundup of six of the best picture nominees at this years Oscars and our thoughts on them. We cover Netflix's German World War I film All Quiet on the Western Front; A24 multiverse comedy Everything Everywhere All at Once starring an amazing Michelle Yeoh; Baz Luhrman's Elvis biopic starring Austin Butler; Todd Field's psychological drama set in the world of classical music TAR starring Cate Blanchett; the much anticipated sequel Top Gun: Maverick; and Ruben Ostlund's dark comedy Triangle of Sadness. 

Forgive us we sounded a little drowsy in this episode just because we are still jet lagged from returning from our trip to Mexico. But, in this week's episode we discuss Luca Guadadigno's new film Bones and All. Its a rich, sombre horror-romance film starring Taylor Russell as Maren, Timothee Chalamet as Lee, and Mark Rylance as Sully about cannibals living on the open road in Reagan Era Midwest America. 

In our first review of the year Danny and I talk about a new low-fi horror film called Skinamarink.  Its a quasi arthouse found-footage horror film about two young children who wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing. All the windows and their doors in their house begin to vanish and a monstrous entity is watching them. This movie was terrifying! We talk about the inspiration and vibes the film gives off and just how truly scary it was! Also a small capsule review for The Menu towards the end of the episode. 

We're back! We're so excited to return to our podcast! It's been a crazy 6 months. Doug graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in Communications, Media, and Theatre and Creative Writing. We went on hiatus so he could focus on finishing strong. But now that he's done we're commited more than ever to making this podcast a community for listeners. Because he was so busy we missed out on the opportunity to talk about some really big releases from 2022, such as : The Batman, X, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis, Crimes of the Future, Prey, Nope, Halloween Ends, and the list goes on. But hopefully we can talk about those in retrospective episodes. So, we decided that our first episode of the new year should be a look forward to all the upcoming releases for the new year! And here is a link to Doug's new blog! https://www.works-by-dougstriffolino.com

In this week's episode we discuss our respective love for theatre and movie musicals, our top five favorite movie musicals, and our favorite songs from those respective musicals, and our little PSA to watch Netflix's tick, tick...Boom! starring the amazing Andrew Garfield. 

In this week's episdoe, Doug and Danny discuss their recent favorite films and series from the last year. And, we take you all on a fun sneak peak at the fall preview of series and films we are excited to binge and venture off to the theatre to go see. These are the shows and movies everyone will be talking about this fall. 

In this episode we talk about Netflix's new dark fantasy series Sandman based on the graphic novel series from Neil Gaiman. we give a brief overview of the plot. Then we give an episode breakdown and some of our favorite dark moments of the first season. -Dream's Imprisonment-Lyta losing her husband Hector again -"Collectors" -John Dee's ride with Rosemary -"A Hope in Hell" -Rachel Dies -FunLand tries to kidnap Jed-"Collectors" -Morpheus' judgment of the Collectors-Joanna Constantine's nightmare-Gregory the gargoyle's fate-"Imperfect Hosts" -Death makes her rounds-"The sound of her wings" -The Diner-"24/7" We also discuss cast standouts and not so great casting (in our humble opinion), how very progressive the show is, the production design, the VFX , and the potential for future seasons and possible spin-offs! 

In this episode we discuss all things Stranger Things season 4. We break down our top 10 moments from this newest season and then briefly discuss some interesting theories for season 5. Get into it! 

Join us for our discussion of It's a Sin! It's a Sin is a British television drama miniseries written and created by Russell T Davies and developed by Red Production Company. The five-part series is set from 1981 to 1991 in London. It depicts the lives of a group of gay menand their friends who lived during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom. It's a Sin features a main cast consisting of Olly Alexander as Ritchie Tozer, Omari Douglas as Roscoe Babatunde and Callum Scott Howells as Colin Morris-Jones, who all move to London. Lydia West, Nathaniel Curtis and David Carlyle play the characters of Jill Baxter, Ash Mukherjee and Gregory Finch respectively. Together they form the ensemble which the show focuses on most. Other actors cast were Keeley Hawes, Shaun Dooley, Tracy Ann Oberman, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry

Welcome back In this episode We discuss our new format and name. We will continue to bring the best movie and now series reviews. We were dealing with a stressful few months at the beginning of the year and decided to take a break. But we are back and better than ever. So the new format will be one episode reviewing a movie and another on a series both being from at leas the last two years. Nothing that is new. The reason for that is because of spoilers. We generally wanted to keep our episodes spoiler free. But in our opinion it didn't make the episodes as dynamic as they could be. This will make the new episodes more fun for you as the audience to listen to and more fun for us as well. So, in our first new episode we discuss M. Night Shyamalan's film Old now streaming on HBOMax, a thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly reducing their entire lives into a single day.  We discuss how the film gives off White Lotus/Nine Perfect Strangers Vibes and the horror of time. This movie will keep you hooked even thought at times the dialogue is clunky and the film itself is super depressing. We also have a spoilers section now that we will announce either in the very beginning of a new episode or at the halfway point to give you the opportunity to watch the movie or series we are discussing and come back and listen!   Enjoy! 

In our first new episode of the new year we do two reviews in one! The first is smash Showtime series Yellowjackets a psychological drama series that tells the story of a team of talented high-school girls soccer players who survive a plane crash deep in the Ontario wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to warring, cannibalistic clan, while also tracking the lives they have attempted to piece back together. Sophie Nelisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher and Sammi Hanratty star as the teenagers, while Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis portray their adult counterparts as they reveal the truth about their survival 25 years later. Then we switch gears and review/discuss the new Scream movie! Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, California, a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrects secrets from the town's deadly past. 

In our final episode for 2021 we discuss what we enjoyed watching/seeing whether TV or film and a small discussion of a few films we're looking forward to seeing before the year is over in a couple weeks.  

In this episode we review Power of the Dog, Jane Campion's first film in over twelve years about a domineering rancher (Benedict Cumberbatch) responds with mocking cruelty when his brother (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Cody Smit-McPhee), until the unexpected comes to pass. 

In our newest episode we discuss and review Ridley Scott's newest film House of Gucci. The film follows Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider who marries into the Gucci family. Her ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge--and ultimately murder. 

In this episode we mainly discuss King Richard. The story of how Richard William (Will Smith) primed Venus and Serena for tennis greatness. In theaters and on HBO Max. We also have a small mini discussion on tick, tick...boom. Noted underachiever Lin Manuel Miranda directs this adaptation of Jonathan Larson's musical about the composer who worried he hasn't accomplished enough in life before his 30th birthday. Exclusively on Netflix. 

In this episode we discuss Passing is a 2021 monochrome Netflix film written and directed by Rebecca Hall adapted from the 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larson. It is set in 1920s New York City, and stars Tessa Thompson who finds her life upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend (played by Ruth Negga) who is passing as white. 

We took a slight departure from the spooky this week to bring you a review of Denis Villeneuve's newest film, Dune! An Epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Villeneuve, and Eric Roth. It is the first of a planned two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, primarily covering the first half of the book. Set in the far future, it follows Paul Atreides, as he and his family, the noble House Atreides, are thrust into a war for the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, between the native Fremen people and the enemy invaders, and former rulers of Arrakis, the House Harkonnen. The film stars an ensemble cast including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. Find out why this is one of our favorite films of 2021!

*This episode contains heavy spoilers* Welcome back to Haddonfield! In this episode we will be discussing David Gordon Green's  next chapter in the Halloween franchise, Halloween Kills (EMPHASIS ON THE KILLS!!) Written by Green, Danny McBride, and Scott Teems, the film is a sequel to 2018's Halloween and the twelfth installment in the Halloween franchise. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis and James Jude Courtney, who reprise their roles as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, and Will Patton also reprise their roles from the previous film, while Kyle Richards, Charles Cyphers and Nancy Stephens return from the original 1978 film. And Anthony Michael Hall and Thomas Mann join the cast. The film, which begins precisely where the previous film ended, sees Strode and her family continuing to fend off Myers, this time, with the help of the Haddonfield community. 

Join us as we review the newest addition to The Sopranos' canon, The Many Saints of Newark. A prequel film to David Chase's groundbreaking HBO organized crime drama, The Sopranos, the film follows a young Tony Soprano (played by Michael Gandolfini) growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, N.J., history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano. Directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner, the film stars Alessandro Nivola , Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga. In theaters and on HBO Max now!

Let's keep the theme of Spooky Season going with a review of Candyman (2021)! Candyman is a 2021 supernatural slasher film directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and DaCosta. The film is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name based on the short story "The Forbidden" by Clive Barker. The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo, and Kyle Kaminsky. Vanessa A. Williams. Find out our verdict now!

We are BACK! Officially married and ready to start cranking out more content for you all! Join us today as we discuss James Wan's newest film, Malignant with NO spoilers! Directed by Wan, screenplay by Akela Cooper, based on an original story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper. The film stars Annabelle Wallis as a woman who begins to have visions of people being murdered, only to realize the events are happening in real life. Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, and Jacqueline McKenzie also star. Listen along as we discuss why this film has everyone talking!September 11th  Documentaries we mentioned:9/11: One day in America on Hulu9/11: Inside the President's War Room on Apple TV+

Join us as we discuss Black Widow "a new action-packed spy thriller where Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. She is pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina." It becomes the first film in Phase Four of the MCU-and is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Keven Feige. Find out why we consider it one of our favorite Marvel movies to date. 

Join us for our review on Cruella now available on Disney+ with Premiere Access. Disney+ describes the film as " an all new live-action film starring  Academy award winner Emma Stone, about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious-and notoriously fashionable villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. The movie is set in the mid 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, following a grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella's flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella. It is directed by Craig Gillespie of "I Tonya" fame." 

Welcome back! In this episode we discuss our official return to movie theaters post COVID! Join us as we discuss John Krasinski's follow up to his 2018 box office and critically acclaimed film A Quiet Place. Both of which follow a family that is forced to navigate and survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind aliens with an acute sense of hearing. Part II picks up right where Part I left off. Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path. Part II stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe reprising their roles from the first film while Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou join the cast! Shhhhh..

The owls are not what they seem...welcome to our special episode of Film Surfing where we discuss one of our favorite shows, Twin Peaks! In this episode we discuss the world of David Lynch and Mark Frost's groundbreaking, revolutionary TV Series beginning in 1990 and wrapping up (?)  in 2017. A crime drama mixed with healthy doses of the surreal, this series is about FBI Agent Dale Cooper, who travels to the small logging town of Twin Peaks to solve the murder of seemingly innocent high schooler Laura Palmer. Almost nothing is as it seems, however, and the show's sometimes eerie visuals, oddball characters and wild dream sequences drive the point home. We also discuss aliens, Project Blue Book,  different dimensions, time & space as well as Lynch's heavily guarded secret new project coming to Netflix sometime soon! So grab a cup of coffee and slice of cherry pie and listen along! 

Join us for our review of Disney's newest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon now playing in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access! Disney's 59th film, Raya  features a predominantly Asian American cast, including the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as Sisu, the dragon, along with Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh, Thalia Tran, Lucille Soong, and Alan Tudyk.Plot:Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good.

Listen along as we review the first blockbuster of the season, Godzilla vs. Kong. Godzilla vs. Kong is a 2021 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard. A sequel to both Godzilla: King of the Monsters(2019) and Kong: Skull Island (2017). Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, and Demián Bichir. In the film, Kong clashes with Godzilla as humans lure the ape into the Hollow Earth to retrieve an energy source to stop Godzilla's mysterious rampages. Check it out on HBO Max now through April 30th or in Theaters! Do you agree with our review?? 

Welcome to the 2021 Academy Awards prediction episode here at Film Surfing! In this episode we talk about all things Oscars. Who we think should win, who will win, what they got right and who was left out. Tune in on April 25th for the 93rd Academy Awards on ABC!In this Episode we Discuss predictions for:Best DirectorBest Original ScreenplayBest Adapted ScreenplaySupporting ActressSupporting ActorLead ActressLead ActorBest Picture(Animated Feature, Score, Original Song and Visual Effects)

Check out our review of The United States vs Billie Holiday now streaming on Hulu! The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 American biographical film about singer Billie Holiday, based on the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. Directed by Lee Daniels, the film stars Andra Day in the titular role, along with Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne and Garrett Hedlund.

Listen now to our review of Nomadland! Nomadland is an American neo-Western drama film directed, written, edited, and produced by Chloé Zhao. Now steaming on Hulu and in theaters, It is based on the 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, and stars Frances McDormand (who also produced the film) as a woman who leaves home to travel around the American West. It also features David Strathairn in a supporting role, as well as real-life nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells, as fictionalized versions of themselves. Find out why we have labeled this film our favorite of the year!

Join us for our review of Sam Levinson's film Malcolm & Marie currently streaming on Netflix. Malcolm & Marie is a 2021 American black-and-white romantic drama film written and directed by Sam Levinson. The film stars John David Washington and Zendaya (who both also produced) as the title characters, a director and his girlfriend, whose relationship is tested on the night of his latest film's premiere.

Warning: This episode contains conversations relating to rape and sexual assault.Welcome Back! Today we are discussing Promising Young Woman. Promising Young Woman is a 2020 American dark comedy thriller film written, produced, and directed by Emerald Fennell in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, and Connie Britton. It tells the story of a woman who seeks to avenge her best friend who was a victim of rape. The film is currently available in theaters but also available to rent on iTunes!

Hello and welcome to our 2021 Movie Preview where we discuss the movies we are most anticipating for the new year! Although we aren't out of the woods yet with the pandemic and movie going is basically all streaming, there are still plenty of exciting movies slated to (hopefully) come out on a variety of streaming services!Follow along as well discuss:Halloween KillsWest Side StoryJudas and the Black Messiah Many Saints of NewarkSpace Jam a New LegacyCandy ManThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do ItNo Time To DieMortal KombatBlack WidowThe Suicide SquadDuneThe Matrix 4Godzilla vs. Kong

Warning: Some light spoilers Welcome back to Film Surfing and welcome to 2021! You'll notice we have brand new artwork and another update coming very shortly! Kicking off a brand new year, join us in our review of Christopher Nolan's latest project, Tenet. Tenet is a 2020 science fiction action-thriller film written and directed by Nolan starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh. Now available to rent on iTunes!Brief Synopsis:Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.Follow along as we discuss:IntroStreaming vs theatersJust too confusing"Nolan James Bond"Nolan's set pieces Score/subtitles (audio)John David WashingtonRobert PattinsonElizabeth DebickiKenneth BranaghMichael Caine...?Nolan will be NolanVerdict/Conclusion

Happy New Year! Enjoy a Bonus Episode and finale of Season 2, a review of Wonder Woman 1984 now streaming on HBO Max. The film is directed by Patty Jenkins from a script she wrote with Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham, based on a story by Johns and Jenkins. Gal Gadot stars as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman, alongside Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen. Brief Synopsis:Set in 1984 during the Cold War, the film follows Diana and her past love Steve Trevor as they face off against Max Lord and Cheetah.Follow along as we discuss:IntroWB are risk takers2 different Wonder WomenAction vs. EmotionWhat makes WW Special?Too many villiansKristen WiigWW vs. CheetahMan vs. WomanMaxwell LordSteve TrevorGal GadotWW MythologyPatty JenkinsThe AmazonsMissed opportunity with musicCartoonish qualityVerdict/Conclusion

Check out our review of our latest Holiday season watch, Soul now streaming on Disney Plus. Soul is Pixar Animation Studios's newest additional released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Kemp Powers, the film stars the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs, Richard Ayoade, and Angela Bassett. Brief Synopsis:The story follows a middle school music teacher named Joe Gardner, who seeks to reunite his soul and his body after they are accidentally separated, just before his big break as a jazz musician.Follow along as we discuss:IntroNot overly sad!Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross scoreOpening credit sequenceThe Great BeforeJust being aliveRepresentationHilariousVoice castMessagesVerdict/Conclusion

Check out our review of our latest Holiday season watch, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom now streaming on Netflix. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a 2020 American drama film directed by George C. Wolfe and written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the play of the same name by August Wilson. Produced by Denzel Washington, Todd Black, and Dany Wolf, the film stars Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (in his final film appearance), with Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Pottsin supporting roles.Brief Synopsis:Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey (Viola Davis).Follow along as we discuss:IntroAugust WilsonLike a play (best seat in the house, again!)Blues/jazz history/musical explorationThe Great Migration/Jim Crow SouthMonologues Viola DavisChadwick BosemanSupporting CastVerdict/Conclusion

**Contains a few spoilers**Check out our review of our latest Holiday season watch, Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of The Prom now streaming on Netflix! The Prom is a 2020 American musical comedy film directed by Ryan Murphy and adapted to the screen by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, from their and Matthew Sklar's 2018 Broadway musical of the same name. Starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Kerry Washington, and Jo Ellen Pellman.Brief Synopsis: A group of down-on-their-luck Broadway stars shake up a small Indiana town as they rally behind a teen who just wants to attend prom with her girlfriend.Follow along as we discuss:IntroWhat a surprise!The best seat in the houseAccurate depiction of working in professional theater*Acceptance*Kerry WashingtonMeryl StreepJames CordenAndrew RannellsNicole KidmanKeegan Michale KeyJo Ellen Pellman & Ariana DeboseLGBT teens of colorConclusion & Verdict

This week we watched David Fincher's Mank starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins to kick off the first of many 2021 Oscar Contenders. Now streaming on Netflix!Brief Synopsis:1930's Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane.In this episode we discuss:Mank IntroCinematography Classic Films and HollywoodBill Nye!Politics / History repeats itselfWho will like this?CastPossible AwardsConclusion and Verdict

The Holiday Season is officially upon us! In this week's episode, we thought it would be fun to kick off the holidays by sharing our all time favorite holiday movies with all of you! Holiday movies are beloved by (most, if not all!) and we know you all can agree to at least a few on our list! Listen now to hear our picks and Happy Holidays!

In our latest Spooky Season episode, we reviewed Mike Flanagan's newest installment of his "Haunting" series, The Haunting of Bly Manor now streaming on Netflix. After the huge success of The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan took a page out of Ryan Murphy's playbook and brought us a fresh story with some familiar faces. Loosely based on Henry James' 1898 novella, The Turn of the Screw, The Haunting of Bly Manor follows a young governess hired by a man to look after his niece and nephew at the family country house after they fall into his care. Arriving at the Bly estate, she begins to see apparitions that proceed to haunt the premises.... but it's about SO MUCH MORE than that. Just like the first season, Flanagan has delivered a fresh take on horror that draws on trauma and the horrors that we all encounter as human beings. Some notable actors include Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Amelia Eve, T'Nia Miller and Henry Thomas. In this episode we discuss:Intro / Haunting of Hill House / Mike FlanaganLove storyVery depressing Binge-able / uneven pacingAmazing visualsGreat mysteriesOutstanding castConclusion/verdictDo you agree with our verdict? Let us know in the comments!

Welcome back Surfers! Spooky Season is upon us! As many of you know, horror is our absolute favorite genre and it seemed appropriate to kick off spooky season with a countdown of our favorite horror movies of all time! We discuss our top 10 as well as some honorable mentions we just couldn't leave out. It's a long one but trust us, it's worth it because we are self proclaimed horror movie "aficionados." So join us, if you dare! Our official Top 10 List:10. Get Out (2017)9. The Witch (2015)8. Alien (1979)7. Jaws (1975)6. The Blair Witch Project (1999)5. Grave Encounters (2011)4. Hereditary (2018)3. ??? 2. ???1. ???Honorable Mentions:The Conjuring (2013)Us (2019)Scream (1996)Requiem for a Dream (2000)The Silence of the Lambs (1991)Suspiria (1977/2018)The Exorcist (1973)

Asylums, Ryan Murphy, Peaches & Sarah Paulson!? What more can you ask for!? In this episode we review Ryan Murphy's latest work, Ratched now streaming on Netflix. Sarah Paulson plays the titular role of Nurse Mildred Ratched in this origin story of one of the most hated characters in cinematic history from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Also starring Finn Wittrock Cynthia Nixon Jon Jon Briones Charlie Carver Judy Davis & Sharon Stone.Brief Synopsis:In 1947, Mildred arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind. On a clandestine mission, Mildred presents herself as the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred's stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born.In this episode we discuss:Ratched IntroLouis Fletcher vs. Sarah Paulson's portrayalMental Health Industry in the 1940sAHS Asylum vs. RatchedAHS: HitchcockThe aspect of "Too Much?" / Ryan MurphyThat ending though...Cast StandoutsSophie Okonedo/Multiple PersonalitiesConclusion / Verdict

In this episode we give a non-spoiler review of Netflix's newest film, The Devil all the Time.Brief Synopsis: Sinister characters converge around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality.It is a psychological thriller (?) film co-written and directed by Antonio Campos based on the novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock. the film stars an ensemble cast comprising Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Sebastian Stan, Haley Bennett, Eliza Scanlen, Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson.In this episode we discuss:Antonio CamposNarration by Donald Ray PollockThe American SouthThe Element of SacrificeNon-linear StorytellingThe ACTING (!)-Tom Holland-Robert Pattinson-Bill Skarsgård & Sebastian Stan-Riley Keough & Jason ClarkeOther Female Characters Conclusion/Verdict

In this episode we give a non-spoiler review of Disney's Mulan, now streaming (for $30...) on Disney Plus, available for free (with Disney Plus subscription) Dec. 4.Brief Synopsis: Mulan is a 2020 American action drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a live-action adaptation (?) of Disney's 1998 animated film of the same name, based on the Chinese folklore "The Ballad of Mulan". The film stars Yifei Liu in the title role, alongside Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Ron Yuan, Gong Li, and Jet Li in supporting roles. Directed by Niki Caro, with screenplay by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, and Elizabeth Martin.In this episode we discuss:OverviewChi/Feminism Lack of MusicVs. Animated MovieCastChinaSet Design/CostumesJet Li as EmperorIs it worth the price?Conclusion/verdict

Welcome back to Film Surfing! To kick off Season 2 we discussed I'm thinking of Ending Things on Netflix. Brief Synopsis (Non Spoiler):A psychological horror (?) tale that stars Jessie Buckley as a young woman rethinking her relationship with her boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) before very weird things start happening when they visit his parents (Toni Colette & David Thewlis) family farm.In this episode we discuss:ConnectionsActingThose car scenes...Cinematography Like a dreamImageryFavorite sceneA puzzleCharlie KaufmanConclusion & Rating

Brief Synopsis:His Dark Materials on HBO is set in a multi-world reality, with the action moving from one world to another. The story begins in an alternate world where all humans have animal companions called dæmons, which are manifestations of the human soul. The series follows the life of a young girl named Lyra who is an orphan living with the scholars at Jordan College, Oxford. As in Pullman's novel, Lyra discovers a dangerous secret that involves Lord Asriel and Marisa Coulter. In her search for a missing friend, Lyra also uncovers a series of kidnappings and its link to a mysterious substance called Dust, which leads her on a journey of epic proportions and will lead to her crossing paths with a boy named Will.